Visitors planning a festive trip to some of the UK's most popular Christmas markets are being warned they could end up paying more for parking than for the mulled wine and mince pies. A new analysis has uncovered the eye-watering costs drivers face, with London locations dominating the top of the list.
The Most Expensive Christmas Parking in the UK
The research, commissioned by WDW Bingo, examined average prices for an eight-hour stay within a ten-minute walk of major festive markets. Using data from QPark and JustPark, the study pinpoints where your parking spend could dwarf your festive fun budget.
Topping the chart as the most expensive Christmas market to park near in the entire UK is Leicester Square Christmas Market. Drivers here can expect to pay a staggering £56.55 for eight hours.
In second place is London's iconic Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, where parking will set you back an average of £52 for the day.
How Other UK Cities Compare
Beyond the capital, the picture is still pricey but slightly less severe. The Edinburgh Christmas Market ranks as the third most expensive, with an average eight-hour parking cost of £28.10.
This is closely followed by York St Nicholas Fair at £26.10 and the renowned Manchester Christmas Market, one of the UK's largest and longest-running, which rounds out the top five at £25.45.
The analysis comes at a time of surging interest in festive days out. In the past month alone, there have been a remarkable 3.4 million Google searches for 'Christmas market' within the UK.
The Cheaper Alternatives for Festive Visitors
For those looking to keep costs down, the study highlights more affordable destinations. Festive-goers heading to Bristol or Cardiff will find some of the cheapest parking rates, at £12.67 and £13 respectively.
The clear takeaway from the data is that in many popular locations, the cost of parking your car will likely exceed the price of your market experience. The advice for budget-conscious visitors is simple: do yourself a favour and take public transport like the Tube, where possible.
